Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Unit

Synopsis

In the Language and Culture component of the unit, students will participate in learning activities appropriate to their developing language competence level, involving a variety of theme-based activities developing more sophisticated speaking, writing and reading and aural comprehension skills, acquiring explicit grammar competence and awareness of discourse and register, and gaining insight into the socio-cultural specificity of contemporary France. In the Specialized Culture component, students will explore an aspect of French culture and society and develop competence appropriate to their year level in the theory, practices and discourses involved in analysis of it.

Objectives

Upon completion of this unit students should have met the following objectives in the following areas:
Communicative competence and linguistic knowledge:

1. Consolidated and improved their existing speaking, listening, reading and writing skills so as to be able to communicate effectively in an increased range of situations and on a wider range of themes including self, family, study, work and leisure, their own and French society, history, and cultural values.
2. Developed language skills in relation to exposition and argument in a number of contexts such as casual debate, formal pressing of a petition, letter-writing, formulating a written petition.
3. Developed information seeking skills in the form of more advanced reading skills, more advanced questioning and interview skills, writing letters and emails to request information.
4. Developed increased explicit grammatical knowledge, empowering the student as an autonomous learner, and explicit awareness of discourse structure and register.
5. Understood the cultural specificity of certain features of communicative practices in French and understand and use aspects of them such as forms of politeness, modes of address in spoken and written French.
6. Developed learning strategies appropriate to their learning style, reinforcing preferred learning modes and developing other modes.

7. Acquired a greater critical knowledge and understanding of modern and contemporary French society, its culture, values and their evolution.
8. Developed a critical understanding of a specific area of study of French Studies as a discipline addressing French culture and society.
9. Developed an explicit understanding and more sophisticated competence appropriate to their year level in the theory, practices and discourses involved in analysis of that area of French Studies.
10. Developed research skills.

Assessment

Language and Culture component:
+Continuing assessment assignments (written and oral, equivalent 1500 words in French): 35%
+Class tests (700 words in French) 15%
+Examination (2 hrs, 1100 words in French)) 25%
Specialized Culture component:
+Continuing assessment assignments (1200 words) 25%

Chief examiner(s)

Patrick Durel

Contact hours

Language and Culture component:
+ One 1-hour grammar seminar per week
+ One 1-hour tutorial per week
+ One two-hour workshop per week
Specialized Culture component:
+ One 1-hour lecture (weeks 1-8)
+ One 1-hour tutorial (weeks 2,4,6,8)

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

French studies

Prerequisites

FRN2030 or equivalent

Prohibitions

FRN1040, FRN2020, FRN2060, FRN2080, FRN2100